Yarn tension guide



Feb. 12, 1957 M, MARS, JR 2,781,181

YARN TENSION GUIDE Filed Feb. 24, 1954 United States Patent G F YARNTENSION oumn Edward M. Ayars, In, Swarthmore, Pa., assignor to AmericanViscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa, :1 corporation of DelawareApplication February 24, 1954, Serial No. 412,284

Claims. (Cl. 242-150) The present invention relates to a yarn tensionguide which is used with systems for continuously withdrawing yarn froma yarn supply package.

My yarn tension guide is particularly adapted for use with yarn creelingsystems wherein single yarns or ends are continuously withdrawn from aplurality of yarn supply packages to provide yarn ends which may bedirectly wound in a side-by-side relationship onto a large spool orbeam. It will be seen, however, from the following description, that theguide may be used with any system whereby yarn is continuously withdrawnfrom a yarn supply package.

The yarn tension guides used in creeling systems today are found to beunsatisfactory in many respects. With these systems, the yarn iscontinuously withdrawn from a supply package and led by a guide betweena pair of contiguous discs mounted upon a supporting spindle which discsapply pressure upon the yarn to properly tension the running yarn. Adifiiculty encountered with past guides arises when the beamingoperation must be suspended to rethread the guide or to replenish theyarn supply packages. After the beaming operation is stopped, thetension discs will continue to rotate for a few turns due to theirmomentum and since the yarn being discharged from the discs is no longerbeing positively drawn therefrom, it will tend to move outwardly awayfrom its position between the discs to form a loop beyond the discperipheries. When the beaming operation is resumed, there is a tendencyfor the yarn loop, as it is being drawn toward the discs, to ride upover the upper disc and overlap that portion of the disc supportingspindle which extends above the discs. When this occurs, the beamingoperation must be stopped to untangle the yarn from the spindle and torethread the yarn between the contiguous tension discs. At other timesthe yarn may be broken during the resumption of the beaming operationbecause of the yarn loop catching on some portion of the creel as it isbeing drawn toward the tension discs. Another unsatisfactory feature ofthe present yarn tension guides used with creeling systems is that twotypes of guides must be used. One type of guide is designed to dischargethe yarn therefrom in a right hand direction while the other type isdesigned to discharge the yarn in a left hand direction. In standardcreels the yarn supply packages are positioned in rows one above theother along both sides of the creel stand. The yarn ends must be takenolf in the same direction from both sides of the reels which requiresthe installationof right hand draw oif tension guides on one side of thecreel stand and the installation of left hand draw off tension guides onthe opposite side of the creel. In addition to the above disadvantages,the yarn tension guides now used in creeling systems are extremelydifiicult to thread since extensions of the guide base prevent easyaccess to the thread ing areas.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide ayarn tension guide which will retain the yarn loop formed as mentionedabove within the imice mediate vicinity of the tensioning discs duringsuspension and resumption of a beaming operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a yarn tension guide fromwhich the yarn may be discharged either in a right hand or a left handdirection.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a yarn tension guidewhich may be easily threaded by the operator.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of thedescription and drawings in which Figure 1 is a top view of the guide;

Figure 2 is a section taken along line 11-11 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective of the yarn tension guide and a yarn supplypackage.

Briefly, the invention provides a yarn tension guide for use in creelingsystems and includes a pair of contacting tension discs mounted on asupporting spindle between which the yarn travels, means for dischargingthe yarn from the tension guide in either a right or left handdirection, and means for retaining the yarn Within the immediatevicinity of the tension discs during suspension and resumption of thebeaming or yarn collecting operation.

Referring now to the drawings, the yarn tension guide comprises a base 1which is drilled at one end to provide a sieeve portion 2 which may befitted over a guide support on the creel (not shown) and fixed inposition by set screw 3. A yarn threading tube 4, through which the yarn5 is drawn from a supply package 6, is supported in the central portionof base 1. Cross bar 7 is afiixed across the base, and is bifurcated ateach end to provide opposing right and left hand yarn guide elements 8and 9 With this arrangement the angular path of travel of the yarnthrough the tension discs is controlled to determine the path ofdischarge from the tension discs in either a right hand or a left handdirection. The ring portion 1% of the base 1 adjacent bar 7 houses thetensioning assembly indicated at 11 through which the yarn is passedfrom either guide 8 or 9. As seen therein, a spindle 15' is supported inthe center of the ring portion is by means of a ribbed supportingstructure 16 welded or otherwise secured to the ring portion 10. Aresilient washer 17 of fibrous or other suitable material is positionedover the spindle 15 to rest upon the supporting structure 16. A lowersaucer shaped tension disc 13 is positioned in inverted manner over thespindle 15 and is supported by the washer 17. Also positioned on thespindle 15 above the lower disc 18 is a second or upper tension disc 19which lies in contact with the lower disc 18. In view of the resiliencyof the washer 17, the discs 18 and 19 may move vertically of the spindlein response to the tension on the yarn passing through the tensionassembly 11. Weights 20, 20 are positioned over the spindle 15 and restupon the upper disc 19 to urge the discs together. The yarn 5 isthreaded between the discs either in a clockwise or counterclockwisemanner depending upon which guide element, 8 or 9, carries the yarn.

An important feature of the invention lies in the yarn rethreading trapsor retainer comprising angle pins 21 and 21 affixed to the ring portion10 and which extend vertically therefrom with the upper portions of thepins extending inwardly toward the discs 18 and 19. As pointed outhereinabove, when the beaming operation is suspended for any reason thediscs 18 and 19 continue to rotate for a time because of their momentumthereby drawing the yarn from the supply package. Since the yarn 5 is nolonger being drawn away from the discs by the take-up spool, a loop isformed in the yarn within the area of the discs. The pin 21 or pin 21,depending upon whether the right or left hand guide is used, servesarsaisi 3 to retain the excess yarn or loop within the immediatevicinity of the discs 18 and 19 to permit easy rethreading of,the discswhen the beaming operation is resumed. These pins or traps prevent theyarn 5 from becoming entangled about the upper exposed portion ofspindle 15 or from being broken by catching on a part of the creeisupport as the yarn 5 is drawn toward the discs 13 or 19 duringresumption of the winding operation. As, seen from the drawings, thepins 21 and 21 are positioned directly opposite to one another toprovide retaining means for the yarn 5 regardless of whether thedirection of yarn discharge is to the right or left of the guide; Thepins 21 and 21 may be disposed at other locations around the ringportion 10, and a plurality of pins may be installed on oppositeportions of the ring section 10 so that the yarn loop may be retained ata number of stations to further insure the retention or trapping of theyarn 5 within the immediate zone of discs 18 and 19. It is preferableto. have the yarn retaining pin, pin 2i for instance, in the form of anangle hook as illustrated in the drawings. The upper portion of the pin21 is bent with respect to the shank port-ion to form an angle therewithless than a right angle. As the yarn loop is formed during suspension ofthe beaming operation, the yarn 5 becomes lodged within the notch formedby the bend of the pin 21 and prevents the yarn 5 from passing outwardlyor upwardly beyond the pin 21. Preferably the free end of the pin 21terminates at a point immediately adjacent the periphery of the upperdisc 19 leaving just enough clearance therebetween to initially threadthe discs 13 and 19.. The pins, 21 and 21 may, of course, take othershapes such asthat of a right angle as long as there is provided a snareor catching portion to trap the yarn 5 as it. loops outwardly from thediscs 13 and 19.

Figure 2 illustrates the manner in which the guide may be used foreither a right hand or left hand yarn discharge. For a left hand yarndischarge the yarn 5 travels through the threading tube 4, through guide9, r

and in a counterclockwise manner between tension discs 18 and 19. For aright hand yarn discharge the yarn 5 travels through tube 4, throughguide 8, and in a clockwise nanner between the tension discs 18 and 19.

{As seen from the above description, the yarn tension guide has manyadvantages over the tension guides now being used. With the presenttension guide, the creeling operation may be stopped and resumedat willwithout rethreading the guides since the tension guide eliminates yarnbreakage or entanglement. The guide may be instalied on either the rightor left side of the creel stand which eliminates the use of separateright and left hand guides. in addition to the above advantages, thetension guides may be easily threaded whether they be positioned in thetop or lower rows of the creel.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes and variations may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

=1 claim:

1. A yarn tension device comprising a base, means at one end of the basefor mounting the base upon a supporting structure, a yarn threading tubeextending vertically through the base, yarn tension discs supported oneabove the other in contacting relationship at the.

other end of the base which discs are rotated by the action of the. yarnpassing therebetween, bent pin yarn rethreading traps for the discswhich traps are secured to the base and located around the discs forretaining in a rethreading position immediately adjacent the discs ayarn loop. formed by the momentum of the tension discs after terminationof the yarn winding operation, and a dual yarn guiding member afiixed tothe base between the yarn threading tube and the tension discs forcontrolling the angular path of travel of the yarn through the tensiondiscs to determine the path of discharge of the yarn from the tensiondiscs in either a right or left hand direction.

2. A yarntension guide comprising a base, means at one end oi the basefor mounting the base upon a supporting structure, a yarn threading tubeextending vertically through the base, yarn guiding means atfixed to thebase, yarn tension discs supported one above the other in contactingrelationship at the other end of the base which discs are rotated by theaction of the yarn passing therebetween, and at least one yarnrethreading retainer for the discs which retainers are secured to thebase and located adjacent the tension discs for retaining in arethreading position immediately adjacent the discs a yarn loop formedby the momentum of the tension discs after termination of the yarnwinding operation to facilitate rethreading of the yarn between thediscs upon resumption of the winding operation.

3. A yarn tension guide comprising a base, means at one end of the basefor mounting. the base upon a supporting structure, a. yarn threadingtube extending vertically through the base, yarn guiding means afiixedto the base, yarn tension discs supported one above the other incontacting relationship at the other end of the base which discs arerotated by the action of the yarn passing therebetween, and a pair ofopposed bent pin yarn rethreading traps for the discs which are securedto the base and located adjacent the tension discs to conline inrethreading position within the immediate vicinity of the yarn tensiondiscs a yarn loop formed by the momentum of the tension discs aftertermination of the winding operation. 7

4. A yarn tension guide comprising a base, means at one end of the basefor mounting the base upon a supporting structure, a yarn threading tubeextending vertically through the base, upper and lower yarn tensiondiscs contiguously mounted on the spindle which discs are rotated by theaction of the yarn passing therethrough, a dual yarn guiding memberafiixed to the base between the yarn threading tube and the tensiondiscs for controlling the angular path of travel of the yarn through thetension discs to determine the path of yarn discharge from the discs ineither a right or left hand direction, and bent pin yarn rethread-ingtraps for the discs which are supported by the base and located adjacentthe tension discs for retaining in rethreading position within theimmediate vicinity of the discs a yarn loop formed by the momentum ofthe tension discs after termination of the winding operation tofacilitate rethreading of the yarn between the discs upon resumption ofthe winding operation. i

5. A yarn winding tension guide according to claim 4 wherein the yarndischarge directional control guiding member comprises opposite endportions of a bar afiixed to and extending transversely of the base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNIT ED STATES PATENTS1,450,559 Medeiros Apr. 3, 1923 1,790,553 Peterson Jan. 27, 19311,856,188 Holmes May 3, 1932 2,055,820 Gram Sept. 29, 1936' 2,185,890Friday Jan. 2, 1940 2,373,066 Theiler Apr. 3; 1945 2,615,654 Suggs Oct.28. 1952

